{"id":25057,"date":"2025-11-05T03:52:06","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T03:52:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/25057\/"},"modified":"2025-11-05T03:52:06","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T03:52:06","slug":"nazareth-girls-soccer-moves-into-state-quarterfinals-on-ayalas-goal-in-final-minutes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/25057\/","title":{"rendered":"Nazareth girls soccer moves into state quarterfinals on Ayala\u2019s goal in final minutes"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Nazareth Area High School girls soccer team<\/a>\u2019s incredible season took another step forward on Tuesday night and a sophomore defender scored the deciding goal for the Blue Eagles. <\/p>\n

Vera Ayala<\/a> headed in a corner kick from senior midfielder Bella Danise<\/a> with 4:20 remaining in regulation to lift Nazareth to a 3-2 home victory over Lower Merion in the first round of the PIAA Class 4A tournament<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cBella and I have been really good on corners. I\u2019ve scored a few from Bella this season,\u201d Ayala said. \u201cI saw the ball come to me and I just went for it. We got that goal and it felt amazing. I really hope that we\u2019re able to keep moving forward and do really good on Saturday.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI just hit a ball in and then I give all that credit to Vera,\u201d Danise said. \u201cShe was able to get in the air. She\u2019s had so many goals with her head. So, I give all credit to her on that one.\u201d <\/p>\n

Danise, who had the only goal in the Blue Eagles\u2019 District 11 Class 4A championship victory over Parkland<\/a> on Saturday, gave Nazareth a 1-0 lead on Tuesday night when she scored with 20:42 remaining in the first half following a free kick from junior defender Maddie Ott. <\/p>\n

The Blue Eagles went up 2-1 less than two minutes into the second half when Danise drilled a penalty kick with her left foot to the left of Lower Merion senior goalkeeper Cate Cantu and into the corner of the net. Junior forward Madison Jankowski drew the penalty with she forced a handball in the box. <\/p>\n

Nazareth will play District 1 fourth-place finisher Central Bucks South on Saturday in the state quarterfinals at a time and site to be determined. Central Bucks South rolled to a 9-0 victory over District 4 champion Williamsport on Tuesday night. <\/p>\n

Lower Merion, the third-place finisher in District 1, tied the game 2-2 with 25:42 left in the second half on a goal by junior Nieve Clifford after her shot deflected off the post and then went into the net. The Aces tied the game 1-1 late in the first half when senior Dylan Steinberg scored with 55 seconds on the clock. <\/p>\n

The Blue Eagles improved to 23-1-1 on the season. <\/p>\n

Lower Merion ended the year with an 18-4-1 record. <\/p>\n

This story will be updated. Check back on lehighvalleylive.com shortly for the full version.<\/p>\n

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